Microsoft is beta testing one of the biggest changes to the Windows taskbar since the introduction of Windows 10. As part of the latest Dev Channel beta build, the company is introducing a news and interests section in the taskbar, soon giving Windows users quick access to a feed of dynamic content throughout the day.
Currently only available by opting any Windows PC into the Windows Insider program, this change is all about getting content that is more relevant to you. According to Microsoft, you’ll be able to summon an “integrated feed” in the taskbar with information that’s tailored to you, eliminating the need to switch between a PC and a phone to stay up to date with the news.
As seen above, the feature works pretty seamlessly. You’ll just need to hover your mouse and click on an icon in the taskbar next to the system tray, containing the weather. This will then show a pop-up “hub” with news stories and other interests.
This initial version has various Start Menu-like “tiles” in the hub for the weather, sports, and top news stories. Microsoft says you’ll be able to access content from “over 4,500 brands” including websites like The New York Times, as well as the BBC. There are even live weather maps, too.
The feature is currently only available for Windows Insider beta testers who are enrolled in the Dev Channel, and it will require a reboot to appear. If current rumors hold up as true, it is likely to come to everyone else in a future Windows 10 release. The “Cobalt” update scheduled for the second half of this year. However, since the feature is in the Dev channel, it’s not tied to a specific Windows release, so it’s not guaranteed to appear outside of the beta versions of Windows.
Just like the Start Menu, this news and interests section feed can be fully personalized. You can select more options and then choose more stories like this or fewer stories like this to see the things you care about in your feed. There’s also an option to react to emojis.
As for the privacy of the feed, Microsoft says there will be quick access to the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard, which will help you limit tracking from advertisers and third parties. The feature can also be turned off by right-clicking on the Taskbar if it is not needed.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.